Separable fastening means



J. F. McGREGOR. SEPARABLE FASTENING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED' JULY 26. I919- Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

Wil /A UNITED sTAi i PATENTIOFFICE.

JOEL FLOWERS MCGREGOR, OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE,

SEPARABLE FASTENING MEANS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOEL F. MoGRnooR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chattanooga, in the county of Hamilton and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Separable Fastening Means, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and use ful improvements in separable fasteners of the button and clasp type and it is designed primarily to provide a separable fastener of this type which will remain connected until it is disconnected by the user. In other words, my idea is to furnish a separable fastener which will not become disconnected until manipulated by the user.

The fastener is primarily intended for overall suspenders and the like, but I am aware that the device may be employed for various other purposes.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a separable fastener in which the button shank engaging part is in the form of resilient tongs which may be pressed open for the purpose of passage over the button or button shank and which in closed position will be locked together by the resiliency of the material from which the tongs are made.

A further object of the invention is to combine the tongs with an improved buckle by the use of which strains on the parts connected will cause the tongs to more tightly grip the button shank, and the buckle to more securely engage the strap to which it is connected.

With the foregoing object outlined and with other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features and combination hereinafter described in detail in connection with the accompanying drawing, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing 2- Figure 1 is a front view of two parts of an overall suspender showing the same connected by my improved separable fastener.

Fig. 2 is a similar view but showing the tongs part of the fastening engaged by the fingers of a user and pressed into open position.

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the parts shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 26, 1919.

Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

Serial No. 313,654.

part 2. The clasp is preferably formed from a single piece of resilient wire and it consists of an intermediate or top bar 6 having its end portions bent as shown at 7 and extended parallel to'the bar to form parallel intermediate cross bars -7 which have their ends 7* bent and extended parallel to'the intermediate bars to form lower cross bars 7. The lower cross bars have their end portions bent as shown at 7 and extended parallel to the cross bars to form inwardly extending arms 8, which with the bars 7 provide a loop 9 to receive the part 2. The arms 8 extend toward each other but do not contact and at the point of approximate meeting, they are bent downwardly to provide oppositely bowed legs 10 and 11, which are crossed as shown at 12 and extended downwardly to form oppositely bowed parallel tongs 13, that in normal position form a loop 14 of sufficient size to encompass the shank 4 of the button.

The clasp in normal condition is in the shape shown in Fig. 1 but when the legs 10 and 11 are forced toward one another, as shown in Fig. 2, the tongs '13 will be moved apart and then the button shank may be slipped between the ends 15 of the tongs.

The free end of the part 2 of the suspender or the like, in being attached to the combined buckle clasp is first threaded under the bar 6, then over the bars 7 and around the bars 7. Then the free end is threaded upwardly between the bars 7 and the portion of the part 2 which overlies said bars, and finally the free end is threaded between the bars 6 and 7 By this arrangement of the bars and threading, the part 2 will be frictionally locked to the buckle and the greater the strain placed on the parts 1 and 2 the tighter will be the frictional contact between the buckle and the part 2. Also by this construction, when the parts 1 and 2 are drawn away from each, the buckle will more tightly contact with the part 2 and the tongs 13 will more securely engage the button shank 4.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 5, represents the top bar of the combined buckle and clasp 20*. Its ends 21 are bent inwardly and o'utwarly to form alined arms 22, which are bent at 23 and extended inwardly, then outwardly to form similar arms 2st. The outwardly extending portions oi the arms 2% have their outer extremities bent as shown at 25 and extended parallel to the parts 24: to form inwardly extending arms 26. lhe arms 26 extend toward each other but do not contact and at the point of approximate meeting, they are bent downwardly to provide oppositely bowed legs 27, which are in all respects similar to the legs 10 and 11 of the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4: inclusive. Metal tubes 28 connect the oppositely disposed arms 22 and 24 and form cross bars which are similar to the cross bars 7 and 7 of the device shown in Figs. 1 to a. The operation of the construction shown in Fig. 5 is identical with thatshown in the other figures and I have omitted the part 2 for the purpose of clearness.

W ith these constructions, the shanks at and clasps 5 and 20 will remain locked until disconnected by the user and as the ends 15 of the tongs form part of a loop, which engages the button shank, they will not project beyond the button and form projections liable to catch or tear a garment.

I am aware that various changes in construction and shape may be made in manufacturing my device without departing from the spirit oi' the invention as set forth in the following claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a button shank, of a one-piece metal clasp including oppositely bowed legs crossed near their extremities to provide parallel oppositely bowed tongs forming a separable loop engaging said button shank.

2. The combination with a button shank, of a one-piece resilient wire clasp including a bar having its end portions bent and extended parallel to the bar to provide a strap loop, the end portions from said loop being extended to form oppositely bowed operating legs, which are crossed near their extremities and terminate in oppositely bowed parallel tongs forming a separable loop of sufficient size to encompass said shank.

A combined buckle and clasp formed from a single piece of wire bent to form a top cross bar having its ends bent inwardly and outwardly to form an intermediate and a lower cross bar, the lower cross bar having its end portions bent and extended parallel to the lower cross bar to provide a strap loop, the end portions of said loop being extended to form oppositely bowed operat ing legs, which are crossed near their extremities and terminate in oppositely bowed parallel tongs forming a separable loop of sufficient size to encompass a button shank.

JOEL FLOWERS MoGREGOR. 

